by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate's Armed Services Committee plans to put the nomination of Chuck Hagel, President Obama's choice for Defense secretary, to a vote on Tuesday, his office announced.

Republicans on the committee have voiced opposition to the nomination of Hagel, a Republican former senator from Nebraska. Last week, 25 Republican senators sent Levin, D-Mich., a letter demanding that Hagel turn over more financial information before they would consider a vote. In particular, they want to know if he or organizations he has been involved with have received funding from foreign sources.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said a vote from the full Senate could come as early as Wednesday.

Levin replied that it would be unprecedented for a nominee to produce more financial information that Hagel had already provided.

One of Hagel's sharpest critics during his testimony last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the committee had done a thorough job of vetting Hagel.

"I have examined the information and responses to members' questions that Senator Hagel has provided to the committee, and I believe that he has fulfilled the rigorous requirements that the committee demands of every presidential nominee to be secretary of Defense," McCain said in a prepared statement.

"As a result, I believe it is appropriate for the Armed Services Committee to vote on Senator Hagel's nomination and determine whether to move this nomination to the Senate floor where members can debate and express their own judgments on Senator Hagel. I will not participate in any walkout of tomorrow's committee vote â?? an action that would be disrespectful to Chairman Levin and at odds with the best traditions of the Senate Armed Services Committee."

Hagel and McCain were allies during much of their time in the Senate. Hagel was co-chairman of McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. Both are Vietnam veterans.

On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on CBS that he would block Hagel's nomination unless the White House produced more information about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in September. Four Americans were killed in that attack, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Graham had previously demanded that outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify before the committee about the Benghazi attack. They testified last Thursday.

Republicans also have questioned Hagel's commitment to Israel and his opposition to Iran.

Levin's office said Tuesday's vote would follow discussion by the committee, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.